Spring wheel



R. H. PLAS' S.

SPRING WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 1919.

m n m MA M W m M; M Mm n, m P

w w M u l m N a mm 0 Q be Q 1 4 \n R. H. PLASS. SPRING WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29. 1919 2 2 92 11. ,H 4% Wm A H d m m '3 P A TTURN E 1 UNITED ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

SPRING- WHEEL.

1,41 ars.

- Specification of Letters Fatent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

Application filed January 29, 1919. Serial No. 2'?3,749.

To all whomc't may concern:

Be it known that I, Bonner H. .PLASS, a citizen of Alsace, having declared my intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, residing in Upper Montclair, county of Essex, and State of N w Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring l Vheels, of which the "following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in spring wheels for road or other vehicles, and has for its object to provide a device of this character which embodies novel features of construction wherebyv an outer floating rim is correlated with the wheel hub in such a manner to transmit the drive while allowing a certain relative movement of the floating rim with respect to the hub, said movement being resisted by springs which serve to absorb-all sudden shocks and jars and prevent the direct transmission thereof to the vehicle.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a spring wheel of this character which can be readily constructed to carry ordinary or heavy loads, which is thoroughly dependable in its operation, and which will function in a smooth and noiseless manner without any excessive friction or binding of the parts.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide a resilient wheel in which a cushion support is obtained for the floating rim by means 01. metallic springs, the springs and associated link members for holding the floating rim and wheel hub in a correlated relation operating in an oil bath so that a smooth and noiseless action is obtained.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which v Figure l is a side elevation of a cushion wheel constructed in accordance with the invention, one set of side plates and the centering links being removed to show the springs and link actuated mechanism -:Eor automatically tensioning the springs to resist a load upon the wheel.

Figure is an edge View of the wheel, portions thereof being broken away and shown 1n section, and the section through the upper portion of the wheel being substantially on the line 22of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the wheel with the front casing removed to show the centering links which hold the floating rim against rotation.-

Figure 1 is a. detail plan view of one of the spacing blocks which is interposed between theside plates of the hub, showing the manner of securing the block in position and also showing the spring actuated plunger of the block for holding the packing in operative position.

Figure 5 is a similar view showing a. slight modification,

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all'the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

lVhile many different mechanical ,means can be provided for carrying out the underlying idea of the invention, the particular ei nbodiment of the invention illustr ted by the accompanying drawings will be described and explained for illustrative purposes. In these drawings the numeral 1 designates a wheel hubwhich may be of any conventional. construction, the outer end of the hub having a smooth fiat face 1, while the inner end of the hub is provided with a brake drum 2, said drum being secured by bolts 3 to the hub flange 4. Rigid with the wheel hub is a pair of spaced plates and 6, th e outer plate 5 fitting upon the outer end of the hub, while the inner plate 6 is engaged by the bolts 3, spacing collars 7 being arranged upon opposite sides thereof. The bolts 3 also passthrougha guard plate 8 which is arranged upon the inner side of the wheel and is clamped directly between the brake drum 2 and the outer spacing collar 7.

Secured to theinner face of the outer plate 5 at a point adjacent the hub is a bearing collar 9, and rotatable upon this'bearing collar and also upon the inner spacing collar 7 is a ring 10. Projecting radially from this ring 10 at equidistant points on the periphery thereof are spaced lugs 11 connected by pins 12 which engage the ends of tension springs 1.8. These springs are arranged substantially tangentially with respect to the ring 10 and have their opposite ends connected to pins 14: which connect the two plates 5 and 6 of the hub and assist in holding the said plates in a spaced relation. In the present instance there are six of these springs 13 which are all arranged in a corresponding manner so that when the ring is rotated in one direction upon its bearings all of the said springs will be simultaneously placed under tension.

The outer peripheries of the hub plates 5 and 6 are connected at intervals by spacing blocks 15 which are suitably riveted or bolted to the plates, and at intermediate points smaller spacing blocks 16 are interposed be-v tween the hub plates. ()ne of these spacing blocks 16 is illustrated in detail by Figure 4., and it will be noted that one side thereof is bifurcated to provide flanges or arms 17 which are secured to the side plates by a bolt 18 and screw 19, respectively. The

screw 19 is locked against working loose by against the floating plate 22, thereby holding the packing 23 in engagement with a plate which is carried by the floating rim, as will be hereinafter described. A slightly modified construction is'shown by Figure 5, in which both of the flanges 17 of the spacing block 16 are secured to the plates 5 and 6 ofthe hub by bolts 25. In both forms of the invention the blocks serve both to hold the hub plates and 6 rigidly in a properly spaced relation, and also to provide a housing for the spring actuated plungers 21.

The lugs 11 of the ring 10 are connected to spaced links 26 which extend in opposite directions from the tension springs 13, the links of each pair being mounted upon the ends of the pins 12 so as to bear against the outer faces of the lugs. The free ends of each pair of these links 26 are connected by a pin 27 the said pin also engaging a link 28 which is arranged in an angular relation to the pair of links and is connected to a pin 29. These pins 29 serve both as bearings for the outer ends of the links 28, and also as connecting means between the hub plates 5 and 6. Each link 28 together with the corresponding pair of links 26 thus forms a set of toggle levers which are arranged in such a relation that when they are folded toward each other the ring 10 will be rotated upon its bearings to place the springs 13 under tension. In the present instance the spaced links 26 are shown as having the intermediate portions thereof offset outwardly, as in dicafied at 26, said offset portions operating The floating rim 31 is mounted upon a channel shaped ring 32, and link hangers 33 extend between the floating rim and the pivot pins 27 which connect the links 26 and 28. These link hangers 33 are engaged at their outer ends by pins 34- which pass through bearing blocks 35 secured to the channel ring 32 by bolts 36, the inner ends of the link hangers engaging the pivot pins 27 on opposite sides of the links 28 and between the links 26. It will thus be noted that the link hangers 33 are arranged in pairs, and these link hangers are formed in sections which are connected by knuckle joints 37. Coil springs 38 are applied to these knuckle joints and normally tend to break the same, although when the link hangers are under tension the action of the coil springs 38 is overcome and they do not function. However, the moment the members 33 are subjected to. compression the coil springs 38 operate to break the knuckle joints 37 and overcome the dead center at the joint so that the two sections of the links can double or fold upon each other.

lVith this construction the load upon the hub is suspended from the top of the floating rim by means of those link hangers 33 which happen to be above the horizontal axis of the wheel. The tension in these upper link hangers 33 will tend to swing the free ends of the toggle link members 28 outwardly toward the rim of the wheel, there by producing tension the inner toggle members or links 26 and rotating the ring 10 upon its hearings to lace the main springs 13 under increasec tension. hub 1 and parts mounted thereon thus move to rotate the ring 10 and increase the tension of the main springs 13 until equilibrium is produced between the springs and the load. At the same time that the link hangers 33 at the top of the wheel are placed undertension, those link members 33 at the bottom of the wheel are correspondingly subjected to compression. The knuckle 1 The downwardly a slight amount relative to the joints 3'? of these lower members then function, the joints being initially broken by the action of the coil springs so that the sections of the links 33 can double or 1 fold in the manner which is necessary to meet the conditions. There is thusno resistance oiiered to the downward movement of the hub with respect to the floating rim, other than that which is incident to the friction of the parts and the increased tension produced in the main springs 13. The floating rim 31 is provided with side plates 39 and 10 which have a telescoping relation to the plates 5 and 6 of the hub. The inner side plate 39 has the outer periphery thereof riveted or otherwise secured di rectly to the channel ring 32, while the outer side plate 40 is secured to the corresponding side of the channel ring 32 by means of a separate annulus 41. The outer side plate 40 of the floating rim is provided at points toward the inner periphery thereof with outwardly projecting pivot studs 42, said studs being shown as provided with bases 42 which are riveted or otherwise rig-,

idly secured to the plate 40 (see Fig. 8). In the present instance there are three of these pivot studs 12 which are arranged at angles of 120 apart. These pivot studs 42 are connected by toggle links 13 and 4st to pivot bolts 45 which project outwardly from the hub plate 5 and provide a means for rigidly securing an outer guide plate 46 to the hub plate. When the floating rim and hub have a concentric or normal relation, the pivot studs 42 and corresponding pivot bolts 45 are arranged on radial lines. An equalizing link 4:7 is pivotally connected at 48 to each of the inner toggle links 4 1, said equalizing links extending between the guide plate 46 and the smooth outer end 1 of the hub to a point substantially central of the hub, at which they are connected by a pivot pin 19. These equalizing links 47 slide freely between the outer guide plate 16 and the outer end of the hub, being directed thereby in their lateral movements. By ref erence to Figure 3 it will be obvious that these three sets of toggle links 43 and slat prevent concentric rotation of the floating rim with respect to the hub, although the floating rim is free to have alimited radial and eccentric movement with respect to the hub. This is indicated by dotted lines, and the three sets of toggle links l3 and 44 are operatively connected by the equalizing.

links 17 so that any movement of one set of the toggle links produces a movement in the other sets of toggle links. All of the parts are thus tied together so that they cooperate and assemble to produce the desired result. These toggle links 43 and 14- and equalizing links 4:7 constitute the means for locking the floating rim and hub against relative concentric rotation without interfering in any manner with the radial and eccentric movement of the floatingrim with respect to the hub which necessary to cause the main springs and spring operating links to function.

A cap piece 50 which is suiiiciently large to house the hub centering mechanism com prising the toggle links 13 and 4st together with the equalizing links 17 and associated parts is applied to the outer side plate 40, as indicated by Figure 2. This cap or casing 50 has a dust and oil proof connection with-the said plate 5, and is imperforate so that it operates both to exclude dust and dirtand also to confine the oil with which the interior of the wheel is partially or entirely filled.

The inner side plate 39 ofthe floating rim is received between the before mentioned guard plate 8 andthe packing 23 of the plate 22. This plate 22 is loose or rotatable upon one of the spacing collars 7, and is engaged by the before mentioned spring plungers 21 which tend to force the same outwardly and hold. the packing in a close engagement with the side plate 89 of the rim. Owing to the fact that the plate 22 is rotatable upon the spacing collar 7 the friction between the packing and side plate 39 will be reduced to a minimum. The outer periphery of the guard plate 8 is flared outwardly at 8 to receive an annular ring of packing 51 which is held in posi tion by retaining means 52. The inclined inner wall of the fiare 8 serves to produce a wedge action whereby the packing 51 is held in an eiiective engagement with the side plate 39. The oil or lubricant with which the interior of the wheel is partially or entirely filled is thus ellectively confined within the interior of the wheel and loss thereof prevented. At the same time dustand dirt is excluded from. the mechanism, the outer packing ring 51 operating in a most effective manner to exclude coarse and heavy dirt, while any fine particles which might by chance work beyond the outer packing 51 will be excluded by the inner packing 23.

A solid tire 53 may be fitted upon the floating rim 31, and the wheel is applied to a vehicle in thesame manner as an ordinary wheel. The centering toggle'links 13 and 4a act in conjunction with the equalizing links 4:7 to lock the floating rim 31 against any appreciable rotation with respect to the hub 1. At the same time, the hub and floating rim are permitted to have a relative radial movement, and the load superposed upon the hub tends to force the same downwardly within the floating rim. This acts through the link hangers 33 to bring the toggle links 26 and 28 into action with the result that the ring 10 is rotated and the main springs 13' placed under increased tension until the tension of these springs is sufficient to resistthe load. 'llhcload is equally distributed through all of the sevsystem of linkages.

eral main springs 13, instead of being transmitted from spring to spring as the wheel" rotates, and this is a very important feature, since it results in uniformity'of ac tion, eliminates noise, and prevents the needless wear and tear which is incident to bringing a series of springs rapidly into and'out of action as a wheel rotates. Not onlyis a yielding support provided for the load, but any shocks and jars incident to the passage of the vehicle over ruts or bumps upon the road surface will be effectively absorbed, thereby protecting the vehicle against sudden shocks and jars.

It may here be observed that a fundamental distinguishing feature of the present invention resides in the use of three pairs of toggle linkages for floatingly associating the rim with the hub, as illustrated Figure 3. As described hereinbefore, each linkage comprises a pair of levers 43 and 44 which are pivoted at Hand tions of the wheel. One joint in each lever,

namely 48, is constrained to movement on an arc of a circle having the centre 49, this constraint being effected in the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated, by means of the equalizing links 47 joined at the common centre 49. It will be observed that the circle of which 49 is the centre does not remain stationary in the operation of the wheehbut shifts about in its own plane. The driving torque is transmitted from the hub to the rim through the above-described The springs 13, however, serve to bias the rim to a position concentric to the hub and thus act to absorb shocks due to, irregularities in the road. While I have illustrated and described the principles of my inventionas applied to spring wheel construction for vehicles, manifestly said principles might readily be embodied in power wheels, pulleys and the like. Therefore, where I have used the terms spring or resilient wheel in my specification and claims, I wish to be distinctly understoodas intending to cover and include such other constructions wherein the said principles may be usefully applied.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A resilient wheel including a hub pow tion, a floating rim carried thereby, a ring rotatably mounted on the hub member, tonsile springs arranged substantially, tangentialto the ring to resist rotation thereof, and extensible means actuated by a radial movement of the floating rim relative to the hub to rotate the ring and tension the springs. y 2. r resilient wheel including a hub porring, and means pivotally connected to the floating rim and t0 the ringfor rotating the latter totension the springs uponrelative radial movement of the floating rim and hub portion. f-

3. A resilient wheel including a hub per tion, a floating rim carried thereby, a ring rotatably mounted on the hub member, springs arranged toresist rotation of the ring, hangers extending inwardly from the floating rim, and an operative connection between the hangers and the ring for rotat ing the latter to tension the springs upon relative radial movement of the floating rim and hub portion.

4. A resilient wheel including a hub portion, a floating rim carried thereby, a ring rotatably mounted upon the hub portion, springs arranged to resist rotation of the ring, collapsible hangers extending inwardly from the floating rim and constructed to collapse under compression, and means actuated by tension in the hangers. due to relative radial movement of the floating ring and hub portion to rotate the ring and tension the springs.

5. A resilient wheel including a hub portion, a floating rim carried thereby, a ring rotatably mounted on the hub portion, springs arranged to resist rotation of the ring, hangers extending inwardly from the floating rim and formedwith brake joints so that they will double up under compres sion, and means act'uated by the hangers when subjected to tension due to relative radial movement of the hub portion and floating rim to rotate the ring and tension the springs.

6. A resilientwheel including a hub portion, a floating rim carried thereby, a ring rotatably mounted on; the hub portion, springs arranged toresist rotation of the ring, toggle links connecting the ring and hub portion, and hanger links extending inwardly from the floating rim and operatively connected to the toggle links for cooperation therewith to rotate the ring and-tension the springs when the floating rim is moved radially with respect to the hub portion.

7. A resilient wheel including a hub portion, a floating rim carried thereby, a ring rotatably mounted on the hub portion,

tween the floating rim and hub portion, said link hangers collapsing when acting under compression.

8. A resilient wheel including a hub portion, a floating rim carried thereby, a ring rotatably mounted upon the hub portion, springs arranged to resist rotation of the ring, a series of sets of toggle links con necting the ring and hub portion, and link hangers extending inwardly from the floating rim and operatively connected to the toggle links, said link hangers being formed in sections which are connected by a knuckle joint, so that the link hangers will collapse when subjected to compression, the link hangers cooperating with the toggle links when acting under tension due to relative radial movement between the hub portion and floating rim to rotate the ring and tension thesprings.

9. A resilient wheel including a hub portion, a floating rim carried thereby, a ring rotatably mounted on the hub portion, springs carried by the hub portion and con nected to the ring to resist rotation thereof, a series of sets of toggle links connecting the hub portion and ring, link hangers extend ing inwardly from the floating rim and connected to the toggle links, said link hangers being formed in sections which are connected by knuckle joints, so that they will double up under compression, springs applied to the knuckle joints for breaking the same, the link hangers being connected to the toggle links for cooperation therewith to rotate the'ringand tension the springs when there is a relative radial movement between the floating rim and hub portion.

10; A resilient wheel lncluding a hub por- .tion, a floating rim carried thereby, means for locking the floating rim against coir centric circumferential motion while permitting relative radial and eccentric motion thereof, said means comprising a plurality oi sets oi toggle links between the floating rim and hub portion. and equalizing links operatively connected to each other and to the diflerent sets of toggle links. and means resisting radial movement of the floating rim relative to the hub portion.

19-. A resilient wheel including a hub portion, a floating rim carried thereby, a ring rotatably mounted on the hub portion, springs arranged to resist rotation of the ring, means actuated by radial movement of the floating rim relative to the hub to rot-ate the ring and tension the springs and means comprising toggle links for preventing concentric circumferential motion between the hub portion and floating rim.

13. A residient wheel including a hub portion, a floating rim carried thereby a ring rotatably mounted on the hub portion, springs arranged to resist rotation of the ring, means actuated by radial movement of the floating rim relative to the hub to rotate the ring and tension the springs, means to prevent concentric circumferential motion thereof while permitting relative radial movement of the members, said means comprising a series of sets of toggle links connecting the floating rim and hub portion, and equalizing links operatively connecting the several sets of toggle links.

let. A resilient wheel including a hub portion, a floating rim carried thereby, a ring rotatably mounted on the hub portion, springs arranged to resist rotation of the ring, hangers extending inwardly "from the floating rim and operatively connected to the ring to rotate the same and tension the springs upon relative radial movement of the hub portion and floating rim, means to lock the said members against concentric circumferential motion while permitting relative radial movement thereof, said means comprising a series of sets of toggle links connecting the hub portion and floating rim, and equalizing links operatively connecting the several sets of toggle links.

15. A resilient wheel including a hub pur tion, a floating rim carried thereby, a ring rotatably mounted on the hub portion, a series of sets of toggle links connecting the hub portion and ring, hangers operatively connecting the/toggle links and floating rim to actuate the toggle links and rotate the ring and tension the springs upon relative radial movement of the hub portion and floating rim, means to prevent concentric circiuniferential motion of the members while permitting relative radial movement tween the side plates and operable within an oil bath, said yielding means resisting radial moven'lent of the floating rim.

17. A resilient wheel including a hub portion, a floating rim carried thereby and movable radially with respect thercto, co1'responding telescoping side plates carried by the hub portion and floating rim respectively and spaced to provide a casing between the members, a closed cap applied centrally to one of the side plates of the floating rim and having an oil tight connection therewith, packing providing an 011 tight connection between the opposite set of side plates, and yielding means arranged within the casing and operable within an oil bath, said yielding means resisting radial movement of the floating rim.

18. A resilient wheel including a hub portion, a floating rim carried thereby and movable radially thereto, spaced side plates upon thehub portion, spaced side plates carried by the floating rim and having a telescoping relation to the side plates of the hub, packing means interposed between one setof side plates, transversely arranged spring plungers holding the packing means in position, and yieldingmeans arranged between the space between the side plates and operable within'an oil bath, sa1d yielding means serving to resist radial movement of the floating rim'relative to the hub portion. I

' 19. A resilient wheel including a hub por tion, afloating rim carried thereby and mov able radially relative thereto, spaced side plates upon the hub portion, spacing blocks between the side plates, side plates carried by the floating rim and having telescoping relation to the side plates of the hub, a packing plate interposed between one set of side plates, transversely arranged plungers slidably mounted upon the before ment1oned s acing blocks and acting upon the packing p ate to hold .it in operative position, and yielding means arranged within the space between the side plates and operable in an oil bath, said yielding means resisting radial movement of the floating rim.

20. A resilient, wheel including a hub portion, a floating rim carried thereby and movable radially relative thereto, spaced side plates upon the hub portion, corresponding side plates carried by the floating rim and having a telescoping relation with the side plates of the hub portion, a packing ring rotatable upon the hub portion and interposed between one set of side plates,

1 vspring plungers engaging the packingplate -tohold it yieldably in operative position,

and yielding means arranged within the space between the plates for resisting radial movement of the floating rim. 7

21. A resilient wheel including a hub portie'n, a rim car-ried'thereby and movable radially relative thereto, spaced side plates projecting from the hub portion, corresponding side plates projecting from the floating rim and having a telescoping relation to the side plates of the hub portion, a packing plate interposed between one set of side plates, yielding means holding the packing plate in position, a guard plate projecting from the hub portion, packing carried by the guard plate and engaging the outer side of the pair of side plates provided with member to rotate the ring and tension the springs.

23. A resilient wheel including a hub member and a floating rim member, a ring rotatably mounted upon one of the said members and arranged concentric to the hub, springs arranged to resist rotation of the ring, and hangers extending between the two members and operatively connected to the ring for rotating the latter totension the springs upon relative radial movement of the floating rim and hub member. 7 V

24. A resilient wheel including a hub member and a floating rim member, in combination with a ring rotatably mounted upon one of the said members andarranged concentric to the hub, springs arranged to resist rotation of the ring, and collapsible hangers extending between the hub member and the floating rim member and arranged to collapse under tension, said hangers being operatively connected to the ring to rotate the same and tension the springs upon relative radial movement of the floating rim and.

hub.

25. A resilient wheel including a hub member and afloating rim member, in combination withfa ring rotatably mounted upon one of the said members, toggle links connectingthe ring and the other member,

springs arranged to resist rotation of the ring, and hangers extending between the hub member and floating rim member and connected to the toggle links for cooperation therewith to rotate the ring and tensionthe springs when the floating rim. is moved radially with respect to the hub member.

' 26. In combination, a rim' portion, a, hub

portion, toggle links for associating the rim portion with the hub portion, means for constraining a point on each of said links to about a common central point, and resilient means associated With said toggle links for biasing said rim portion to a position concentric With said hub portion.

27. In combination, a rim portion, a hub portion, toggle linkages for associating said portions, each of said linkages comprising a lever pivot-ally connected to the hub portion, means for constraining a point on each of said levers to movement on an arc of a circle common to all of said points, and resilient means for biasing the rim portion to a position concentric tothe hub portion.

28. In combination, a rim portion, a hub portion, resilient means for biasing said rim portion to a position concentric to the hub portion, and mechanism for transmitting driving torque from the hub portion to the rim portion, said mechanism comprising a plurality of toggle linkages and being independent of said resilient means so that substantially no load is put on said resilient means by the torque transmitting operation of said mechanism.

ROBERT H. PLASS. 

